The Division of Geriatric Medicine at McGill University leads in aging research, dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and enhancing the health and well-being of older adults. Our research spans a wide range of disciplines, from the biological processes of aging to creating innovative models for clinical care and health systems. Guided by a geroscience framework, we explore how biological changes related to aging contribute to frailty, multimorbidity, and functional decline—and how interventions targeting these mechanisms can prolong healthspan and maintain intrinsic capacity.
Our research activities at the Division are based on four main pillars spanning from bench to bedside and population: Biomedical Research, Geroscience Clinical Trials Units (GCTUs), Population Health, and Knowledge Mobilization. Our Division members lead these pillars in collaboration with other McGill Divisions (e.g., cardiology, endocrinology, epidemiology, oncology, and neurology) and an extensive network of collaborators across Canada and worldwide.
Our research programs encompass several interconnected themes. These include osteosarcopenia and musculoskeletal aging, examining the relationship between bone and muscle health; frailty and intrinsic capacity, developing tools and interventions to improve function and resilience; the use of technology and artificial intelligence, aimed at predicting adverse outcomes and enhancing care planning for older adults; cognitive aging and dementia, focusing on prevention and care strategies for neurodegenerative diseases; and models of integrated and transitional care, aimed at improving outcomes for older adults across hospital and community settings. The Division also participates in national and international networks dedicated to geroscience, clinical trials in aging (through our Geroscience Clinical Trials Units), and innovative educational strategies in geriatrics and gerontology.
Research within the Division is conducted at several McGill-affiliated sites, including the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), the Jewish General Hospital, and the St. Mary’s Hospital Research Centre. These locations provide access to state-of-the-art clinical and biomedical research facilities, along with diverse patient populations, encouraging strong interdisciplinary collaborations among clinicians, basic scientists, and public health researchers. Through these partnerships, the Division of Geriatric Medicine continues to turn leading research into clinical innovation, training excellence, and improved care for older adults both locally, nationally, and worldwide.
The Division of Geriatric Medicine connects scientific discoveries and clinical innovation through Schouela CEDurable, McGill’s Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Health of Seniors (www.cedurable.ca). As the division’s translational and implementation hub, Schouela CEDurable turns research findings into practical interventions that improve care for older adults. Leveraging the division’s strengths in geroscience, musculoskeletal health, frailty, and multimorbidity, CEDurable develops, tests, and scales models of care that boost functional capacity, promote independence, and reduce healthcare fragmentation.